Detroit, Michigan – The restoration of Detroit’s renowned Lee Plaza has finally started, signifying a turning point for one of the city’s most valued architectural treasures. Developers, municipal leaders, and community members gathered for a groundbreaking ceremony at the historic art deco tower on West Grand Boulevard after years of waiting and preparation, formally launching a project years in the making.
Long a symbol of Detroit’s great history and, more recently, its tenacity, Lee Plaza, a 15-story skyscraper was initially debuted in 1929. Originally a luxurious residential hotel, the building has been empty for years and many regarded it as the last major devastated high-rise of the city. The tale of the building is now turning in a new direction—one that will return 117 affordable senior apartments into its historic walls.
Directed by the Roxbury Group, Ethos Development Partners, and Lighthouse, the renovation will offer safe, affordable homes for seniors whose incomes are at or below 50% of the area median. Residents will, importantly, pay no more than 30% of their income on rent; these affordability safeguards will last at least 45 years. A future second phase could increase the building’s effect even more by adding another 65 units.
The renovation goes beyond providing much-needed housing. The project will rehabilitate Lee Plaza’s famed art deco façade and re-create some of its original ornamental features, including its well-known terra cotta lion heads, with the assistance of local partners and historic preservation specialists. These touches are not just about aesthetics; they represent a commitment to honoring Detroit’s architectural history and reviving a beloved neighborhood landmark.
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and officials from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) commended the initiative, stressing the need of transforming a long-vacant building into a lively home for the city’s elderly population.
“Lee Plaza is one of the most beloved buildings in our city, not only because of its architectural beauty, but because it’s in a neighborhood,” said Mayor Mike Duggan. “Thanks to Roxbury and their partners, Amy Hovey and MSHDA and Julie Schneider and the Housing & Revitalization team, Lee Plaza is being transformed from blight to its original beauty as 117 units of beautiful affordable housing for our seniors.”
Funding such a complicated project called for a diverse strategy combining city, state, and federal sources with grants, loans, and housing tax credits. Major financial partners are MSHDA, the City of Detroit, the Michigan State Legislature, KeyBank, Invest Detroit, and private investments from Royal Bank of Canada and JPMorgan Chase. Key factors in enabling the redevelopment were the City of Detroit’s ARPA funds and HUD rental assistance.
The initiative is also anticipated to strengthen the local economy by creating more than 200 construction and permanent positions. The renovated structure is anticipated to become a focal point for community redevelopment as the neighborhood around Lee Plaza grows, offering both new housing possibilities and a sense of pride for Northwest Goldberg area residents.
Construction’s first phase is expected to finish by the end of 2026; the development team still looking for money for the phase that follows. Detroiters are keeping a close eye on Lee Plaza’s change since they want to see this formerly neglected site shine again as a home for elders and a light for the surrounding area.